10/31/14

Certainly a large share of the national and local focus is on whether Georgia will go blue or stay red come election day, Nov. 4. But for many communities, there is also a lot of transportation money at stake.
Georgia has no secure, reliable source of transportation funding, and, in fact, spends less on transportation than almost any other state in the country. To address the need for transportation money, communities have put forth local tax referenda to help leverage federal dollars, which make up the majority of our transportation funding.
Even this method may not pay the dividends community leaders hope. With Metro Atlanta the poster child for sprawl and auto dependency, the U.S. Department of Transportation is increasingly reluctant to match local funds for widening roads...

10/28/14

Farming and agriculture have been essential parts of Georgia's economy since before the state's founding in 1788. Today the Peach State is the top producer in the country of peanuts, pecans and watermelons, and agriculture has an annual economic impact of $71.1 billion, according to the University of Georgia Extension Service.
To honor the ongoing role of agriculture in state, the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources began the Georgia Centennial Farm Program in 1993. Since that time, more than 460 farms continuously operating for 100 years or more have been recognized.
The 21st annual Georgia Centennial Farm awards ceremony was held earlier this month at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, when 18...

10/24/14

Honoree Milton “Mjay” Hall, right, with some of his family
On Oct. 21, bestselling author Becky Blalock challenged some of Georgia's best and brightest to get out of their comfort zones, take more risks and dare to do more at Georgia Trend's annual 40 Under 40 banquet.
Held in the beautiful Egyptian Ballroom at Atlanta's Fox Theatre, the event recognized this year's honorees, who were named to the list because of their impact on Georgia through their work and community service efforts. The ballroom was full of friends, family and co-workers, who came out to support and congratulate these 40 men and women for their efforts.
WellStar Health System and Kennesaw State University sponsored the event. Becky Blalock, managing...

10/21/14

Do you have an idea to make the cities of Columbus, Macon or Milledgeville more successful? If you do, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation might just pay you to put your idea in play. In the first-ever national Knight Cities Challenge, the foundation is looking for ideas that will make the 26 cities – including three here in Georgia – where Knight invests more vibrant places to live and work.
Applications for a piece of the $5 million pie are being accepted through Nov. 14, at 5 p.m. ET at KnightCities.org.
“Our hope is to inspire people – even those who have not previously thought of themselves as civic innovators – to get involved in shaping the future of their cities,” says Carol Coletta, Knight Foundation vice president for...

10/17/14

Some of the brightest minds in the world gather in Savannah each year to compete for two $100,000 prizes at the Ocean Exchange. The Orcelle Award, funded by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, challenges applicants to develop technologies to improve the efficiency of logistics operations on a global scale. The Navigator Award, funded by Gulfstream, is presented to companies working to improve sustainability. Last week, 22 experts from around the world selected 10 finalists, including two grand prize winners, for this year's awards, at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.
This year's Orcelle Award went to Deep Green from Minesto AB of Sweden. Deep Green produces electricity from low velocity tidal and ocean currents using a sort of underwater kite comprised of a...